Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, yet many are not familiar with its symptoms and risk factors. The Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester county health departments hope to change that.

They have teamed up with Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Atlantic General Hospital to hold the Go Red event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the auditorium of the Avery W. Hall Educational Center at PRMC.

Women who attend are encouraged to wear red — the official color for heart disease awareness.

The event will feature health screenings, a healthy cooking demonstration, vendors, dinner and prizes. Free parking is available in Garage B, located next to the Educational Center building. Register by Feb. 3 at www.wicomicohealth.org.

The “OC Saves!” theme will pay tribute to the thousands of donors who continue to give back to the community by donating blood. Each unit of blood donated has the potential to save up to three lives.

All donors will receive a free T-shirt with the “OC Saves!” logo and a chance to win dozens of prizes, including a 40-inch flat screen TV and $100 gift cards to some of the best restaurants in Ocean City.

Appointments for this event may be scheduled online at www.DelmarvaBlood.org or by phone at 888-8-BLOOD-8.

New dean

of UMES’ pharmacy school named

SALISBURY – Dennis Killian, pharmacy director at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, has accepted an offer from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to be the interim dean of its pharmacy school.

Killian replaces Nicholas R. Blanchard, hired in 2008 to launch the School of Pharmacy, which enrolled its first class in August 2010. Blanchard resigned in late November to become dean of pharmacy at West Coast University in Los Angeles. His last day at UMES is Jan. 24.

Killian began his administrative duties on Jan. 6.

2 dead, 1 hurt after SUV goes off overpass in Md.

UPPER MARLBORO (AP) – Authorities say two people are dead and one person injured after a car went off an overpass in Prince George’s County.

Police say it happened at about 2 a.m. Monday when the driver of a Chevy Tahoe traveling northbound on Indian Head Highway lost control. Police say the car went off the overpass and crashed onto Oxon Hill Road. The car landed on its roof.

Police say one man and one woman were pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Police identified the victims as 45-year-old James Monroe Henderson, the car’s driver, and 30-year-old Aayoni Williams.